East Avenue goes close in G3 Oaklawn Mile

Different tactics nearly paid dividends for East Avenue as he rallied well to finish second to Nu What’s New in the G3 Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn Park, USA, on Saturday, 28 March. 

All three of East Avenue’s previous wins had come from forcing the pace, notably dominating the G1 Breeders’ Futurity as a juvenile, but the Brendan Walsh-trained colt stalked the pace this time as he disputed third on the outside of Neoequos.

Nu What’s New grabbed a slender early lead from Awesome Aaron, with East Avenue moving up to a clear third at the halfway point before being shuffled back to fourth as Neoequos made his challenge turning in. 

East Avenue battled strongly under Cristian Torres in the straight, getting up for second inside the final furlong, and closed on Nu What’s New in the final strides, with three-quarters of a length separating the duo at the line.